BBC scrapping free licences for over 75s

[Bosscat]

Bloody hell, bet B&Q scrap pensioner Thursday next.........

Bloody hell how much are pensioners at B&Q I never thought I would need another one (have 2 in our house already )

[Clarets4me]

Iv never paid for a TV licence and never will.

You don't need to if you're still living at home with your Mum ....

[TheFamilyCat]

I could cut some costs at the BBC very easily...

Garth Crooks, Lawrenson, Steve Wright, Claudia Winkleman would go for starters. That must be worth a fair few £154 license fees

[tim_noone]

You don't need to if you're still living at home with your Mum ....

[jrgbfc]

Tories getting the BBC to do their dirty work for them.

[Grumps]

Wouldn't surprise me

The trouble is people who have never used the bus suddenly start using it all the time when its free....

[Bosscat]

The trouble is people who have never used the bus suddenly start using it all the time when its free....

My Mrs has had her bus pass for a while and has used the Bus precisely once.... to get into Hellifield to pick up the car after its MOT

[dsr]

The trouble is people who have never used the bus suddenly start using it all the time when its free....

My mother uses the bus quite a bit, and she has never had any trouble finding a seat! Free passes don't work until 9.30 so it's not as if they're taking up seats at rush hour.

[ClaretTony]

My mother uses the bus quite a bit, and she has never had any trouble finding a seat! Free passes don't work until 9.30 so it's not as if they're taking up seats at rush hour.

We are not allowed out after 11 at night either or we have to pay

[dsr]

We are not allowed out after 11 at night either or we have to pay

You mean, when I kicked that pensioner off the midnight bus back from Manchester the other day, I was being unreasonable? Sorry.

[Grumps]

The bigger scandal is all those men and women, who worked all their lives, thinking they'd get a pension at 60 and 65, now have to wait several years to receive it, over 5 years in the case of some women.

[Foshiznik]

Like with most things people criticise, we would miss the BBC if it was scrapped. Imagine ITV style TV as your only option on terrestrial TV?! Thank goodness Channel 4 do the odd good documentary every now and again.

[Foshiznik]

The bigger scandal is all those men and women, who worked all their lives, thinking they'd get a pension at 60 and 65, now have to wait several years to receive it, over 5 years in the case of some women.

Well, when i started in the Civil Service, i was guaranteed a pension that is now worth 42% less than it was when i started and I cannot access it for 7 years longer than I agreed (was 60, now 67). I still have 35 years of work to do before then, so it's only going to rise again before then.

At least the oldiewonks can be ****** off in their £100k+ family home they paid pittance for when the council sold them off...

[dsr]

The bigger scandal is all those men and women, who worked all their lives, thinking they'd get a pension at 60 and 65, now have to wait several years to receive it, over 5 years in the case of some women.

Is it equally scandalous that, having thought they would die at 75, they find that life expectancy has risen beyond 80? I realise the case of women having to retire at the same age as men is considered especially outrageous by those who spent their lives pursuing equal rights for women - but is it really morally wrong?

[conyoviejo]

Is it equally scandalous that, having thought they would die at 75, they find that life expectancy has risen beyond 80? I realise the case of women having to retire at the same age as men is considered especially outrageous by those who spent their lives pursuing equal rights for women - but is it really morally wrong?

Yes it is morally wrong ,when they have worked all their lives and paid in their stamps and taxes so they can retire when they reach 60 and then within five years of recieving their pensions are in some cases not even told they are having their pension age put up to 65 ..

You need to visit the WASPI page on Facebook and read some of the awful situations these women are finding themselves in .. Thinking they were going to retire and then being told they would have to work another five years or make a do on no income.. The government was morally wrong when doing this..

[ClaretTony]

You mean, when I kicked that pensioner off the midnight bus back from Manchester the other day, I was being unreasonable? Sorry.

No, far from unreasonable but at least they'd paid for their bus fare unless it was weekend

[mdd2]

The bigger scandal is all those men and women, who worked all their lives, thinking they'd get a pension at 60 and 65, now have to wait several years to receive it, over 5 years in the case of some women.

The only scandal is the delay in doing all this when it was clear that the massive increase in LE meant that all pension schemes were becoming unaffordable and as the State pension is paid for from those working and paying NI plus top ups from other taxes moving from 9 million over 65 25 years ago to 12 million now and a LE for a man aged 65 in 1995 of 16 years and now it is 20 years would have meant more people receiving the pension and getting it for longer period.
The same applies to personal pensions-hard to reconcile a pension of 50% of final salary after 40 years at work and then getting that at 60 for the next 25 years having paid way less than half of your salary into the pension pot.

[dsr]

Yes it is morally wrong ,when they have worked all their lives and paid in their stamps and taxes so they can retire when they reach 60 and then within five years of recieving their pensions are in some cases not even told they are having their pension age put up to 65 ..

You need to visit the WASPI page on Facebook and read some of the awful situations these women are finding themselves in .. Thinking they were going to retire and then being told they would have to work another five years or make a do on no income.. The government was morally wrong when doing this..

Everybody in the country (apart from MPs, of course) has suffered lost of value in pension pot, reduction in final payments, increase in retirement age, etc etc etc. It's a shame that all our retirement ages have gone up, but what's the alternative? People are living longer and health treatment is getting more expensive and more successful. Yes, you can say that it's unfair that women can't retire at 60 - but what's the alternative? You either need to make men retire at 70+, which would be nonsense; or you tell young people today that their pensions will not be funded and they will not retire till 75 because they have to pay for early retirement for the 60 year old women.

The equal pay act was in the 1960's. It's a scandal that it has taken 50 years for it to be concluded - the sliding scale of equalising mens' and women's retiring ages should have started then and been fully in place by 1980 at the absolute outside.

I'm a man, and I put on record that I am not willing to work past 67 just so a woman can retire at 60. She's going to live linger than me anyway.

[conyoviejo]

Everybody in the country (apart from MPs, of course) has suffered lost of value in pension pot, reduction in final payments, increase in retirement age, etc etc etc. It's a shame that all our retirement ages have gone up, but what's the alternative? People are living longer and health treatment is getting more expensive and more successful. Yes, you can say that it's unfair that women can't retire at 60 - but what's the alternative? You either need to make men retire at 70+, which would be nonsense; or you tell young people today that their pensions will not be funded and they will not retire till 75 because they have to pay for early retirement for the 60 year old women.

The equal pay act was in the 1960's. It's a scandal that it has taken 50 years for it to be concluded - the sliding scale of equalising mens' and women's retiring ages should have started then and been fully in place by 1980 at the absolute outside.

I'm a man, and I put on record that I am not willing to work past 67 just so a woman can retire at 60. She's going to live linger than me anyway.

The point I'm trying to make DSR,Is not the retirement age,but the tine scale given,when these women had planned to finish at 60 then not given any notice ,most only finding out when they applied for their pension statement..totally unfair and morally wrong.. They should have been sent at least a proper notice telling them it was going to happen instead of sneakily bringing it in ..

[Grumps]

The point I'm trying to make DSR,Is not the retirement age,but the tine scale given,when these women had planned to finish at 60 then not given any notice ,most only finding out when they applied for their pension statement..totally unfair and morally wrong.. They should have been sent at least a proper notice telling them it was going to happen instead of sneakily bringing it in ..

This is the point exactly.

[dsr]

The point I'm trying to make DSR,Is not the retirement age,but the tine scale given,when these women had planned to finish at 60 then not given any notice ,most only finding out when they applied for their pension statement..totally unfair and morally wrong.. They should have been sent at least a proper notice telling them it was going to happen instead of sneakily bringing it in ..

Yes, that's a valid point.

But not valid enough to make me willing to put my retirement off past 67 to pay for them to retire at 60. That would be more unfair still. IMO.

[Rick_Muller]

I've just considered what it would be like to be a lonely old person who only has the TV for company, as described by many people who are campaigning against the scrapping of the "free" licence for over 75's. Consider this, what are the authorities going to do if every person over 75 refused to pay? are they going to be fined? and pay with what? jailed? well it solves the issue of company and needed a TV licence, doesn't it

[basil6345789]

Good too much public money is wasted on old people who are already loaded. Invest in the younger generations who really need the support

Is that the young generation that spends fortunes on tattoos, piercings, doss degrees at crap unis (their terminology), gap years, gin palaces and anything throw away?
Why don't you look at supporting everyone instead of one or the other - those who have contributed and those who are about to?

[GodIsADeeJay81]

The point I'm trying to make DSR,Is not the retirement age,but the tine scale given,when these women had planned to finish at 60 then not given any notice ,most only finding out when they applied for their pension statement..totally unfair and morally wrong.. They should have been sent at least a proper notice telling them it was going to happen instead of sneakily bringing it in ..

Is that right?

I'm well aware that my retirement age went up a few years back and they had a cut off age/year of birth for it too, so people had plenty of notice

Are you telling me people are reaching what they thought was their retirement age and not knowing it's been moved?

[Devils_Advocate]

Is that the young generation that spends fortunes on tattoos, piercings, doss degrees at crap unis (their terminology), gap years, gin palaces and anything throw away?
Why don't you look at supporting everyone instead of one or the other - those who have contributed and those who are about to?

Thats what I am doing. Instead of having benefits based on age rather than need is what im advocating. No problem with a lot of the support and benefits we provide the elderly as lots need it but giving free stuff to loaded old folks when there are young families in much greater need just doesnt sit well with me.

If you want to stereotype young people and detract from the real struggles they face to justify your cushy life then thats your free choice to do so

[basil6345789]

Jimmymaccer - they scrapped it yonks ago,

[basil6345789]

Thats what I am doing. Instead of having benefits based on age rather than need is what im advocating. No problem with a lot of the support and benefits we provide the elderly as lots need it but giving free stuff to loaded old folks when there are young families in much greater need just doesnt sit well with me.

If you want to stereotype young people and detract from the real struggles they face to justify your cushy life then thats your free choice to do so

You mean means testing.
When will they come along and say they're taking away your State Pension despite having paid-in for 50 years because you've worked and saved instead of wasting it?
If "loaded old folks" isn't stereotyping then I don't know what is!

[Damo]

The BBC could fund this themselves buy getting rid of some bloat, and some of the high earners.
Like Gary Lineker

[Devils_Advocate]

If "loaded old folks" isn't stereotyping then I don't know what is!

Im not stereotyping or labeling old folk as loaded, I am specifically talking about the old folk who are loaded which undeniably there are plenty of

[basil6345789]

Mark my words,Next it will an all out attack on bus passes for us hard up pensioners ..

Those bus passes are more than self-financing. They enable millions to get out and spend modest amounts, which all adds up to big bucks in the economy hence billions in tax revenues.

[basil6345789]

The BBC could fund this themselves buy getting rid of some bloat, and some of the high earners.
Like Gary Lineker

Also scrap BBC World Service and Asian Network.

[basil6345789]

Means testing - besides - it costs more to administer means tests than the money it could save.

[RingoMcCartney]

It's 2019. The idea of being forced, through threat of imprisonment, to pay for the privilege of what for millions, is one of their few reliefs from loneliness they have left. Is an anathema to anybody who believes in basic fairness.

It's a regressive tax that is placed upon the unemployed, those on minimum wage and multi millionaires, regardless of their actual ability to pay.

It's an unfair poll tax that should be scrapped immediately.

Last week the BBC was proclaiming how the veterans were a generation that the country owed so much to for their courage and valour.


This week the BBC is saying "by the way, you owe us 154 quid"

[Stayingup]

[quote="Devils_Advocate"]Good too much public money is wasted on old people who are already loaded. Invest in the younger generations who really need the support[/quote

Haha. What a pr!ck.

[Spike]

Currently, if anyone in a household is over the age of 75, it qualifies for a free television licence. Not any longer, will only apply to those on pension credit.

should apply to any household which only has residents over 75.

Taking the free TV LIcence of every D-Day veteran stinks!

[LeadBelly]

I trust Saint Gary will be giving up half of his £1.75 million BBC salary to buy licences for c. 6,000 needy/lonely over 75s. He's that sort of guy- isn't he?

[Tall Paul]

It's 2019. The idea of being forced, through threat of imprisonment, to pay for the privilege of what for millions, is one of their few reliefs from loneliness they have left. Is an anathema to anybody who believes in basic fairness.

It's a regressive tax that is placed upon the unemployed, those on minimum wage and multi millionaires, regardless of their actual ability to pay.

It's an unfair poll tax that should be scrapped immediately.

Last week the BBC was proclaiming how the veterans were a generation that the country owed so much to for their courage and valour.


This week the BBC is saying "by the way, you owe us 154 quid"

You can't be imprisoned for not having a TV Licence.

[RingoMcCartney]

You can't be imprisoned for not having a TV Licence.

If you want to argue the toss about whether it's the subsequent fine you're jailed for or the direct non payment of the licence, that's upto you. However, the long and short of it is, if you don't pay the regressive , unfair poll tax, you can wind up getting sent down.

If you cannot afford the 154 for the licence, how are you going to find the subsequent £1000, if you want to avoid prison.

Tell this old woman you can't face prison for not paying the same tax as a millionaire -

"Belfast grandmother jailed after not paying TV licence fine released from prison"

https://amp.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news ... 62137.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ ... icence-fee" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

From the Guardian-

Enforcement
The NLNP’s enforcement procedures have been redacted “because they contain information which could be useful to people attempting to evade the licence fee”. However, an unknown number of people will be visited by “the TV Licensing field operations team”. (The collection system is contracted out to Capita.) You can refuse them entry, but they may come back with a search warrant.

The BBC says, when contacted, about a sixth of NLN claimants are found to need a licence.

You can be prosecuted for watching TV without a licence, and fined up to £1,000 (up to £2,000 in Guernsey). Hundreds of thousands of people have been prosecuted – some of them living in poverty – and some have been jailed for not paying fines.

[TheFamilyCat]

I love how Ringo, having been proven to be wrong and even explains in his last sentence why he is wrong, still claims to be right.

[Rick_Muller]

You can't be imprisoned for not having a TV Licence.

So what is the risk (benefit!) of not paying to the old folk who are going to be affected by this?

[RingoMcCartney]

I love how Ringo, having been proven to be wrong and even explains in his last sentence why he is wrong, still claims to be right.

Like I said, you can argue the toss if you like. Whether it's non payment of the subsequent increased fine or the TV licence itself, you can end up inside.

How can anybody reasonable claim that if someone can't afford to pay the initial £154 then they will somehow be able to find an additional £1000?

You argue the technicalities all you like, in support of a regressive tax on those least able to afford it. But the example here-

https://amp.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news ... 62137.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Proves I'm right.

Also, Labours Tom Watson said in Parliament within the last hour it was shameful that pensioners, some of whom the poorest in society, could "face imprisonment" for not paying the TV licence.

Hopefully it'll be on this evenings 6 o'clock news, so you eat your humble pie along with your tea.

[claret2018]

Labour introduced the free licences for over-75s, and in 2015 the Conservatives removed the funding for it.

And people are annoyed at the BBC for this?

[Damo]

Labour introduced the free licences for over-75s, and in 2015 the Conservatives removed the funding for it.

And people are annoyed at the BBC for this?

Labour MP's didnt finance this scheme out of their own pockets.

[TheFamilyCat]

Like I said, you can argue the toss if you like. Whether it's non payment of the subsequent increased fine or the TV licence itself, you can end up inside.

How can anybody reasonable claim that if someone can't afford to pay the initial £154 then they will somehow be able to find an additional £1000?

You argue the technicalities all you like, in support of a regressive tax on those least able to afford it. But the example here-

https://amp.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news ... 62137.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Proves I'm right.

Also, Labours Tom Watson said in Parliament within the last hour it was shameful that pensioners, some of whom the poorest in society, could "face imprisonment" for not paying the TV licence.

Hopefully it'll be on this evenings 6 o'clock news, so you eat your humble pie along with your tea.

From your link:

“Anne Smith (59), from Poleglass, was imprisoned after she did not pay a £1,100 court finefor failing to pay her television licence.”

Proves that you are wrong. Tom Watson is also wrong.

For someone who can be so pedantic (does losing a seat ring a bell?) I thought you’d be able to see what the imprisonable offence is.

[Grumps]

should apply to any household which only has residents over 75.

Taking the free TV LIcence of every D-Day veteran stinks!

Talk about going over the top!! If an over 75 is struggling financially,they will be on the benefits that entitle them to a free licence, no problem. If they are quite well off then they pay for it.no problem. I know someone who fought in the war, and has more money than most who post on here...he his proud that he can pay for everything, including his care,and would be offended to get something free,that he could easily pay for. I cannot understand the outrage on here and elsewhere about the free tv licence being taken away from those who can afford to pay for it, who probably pay sky £80 a month without any problem but moan because they have to pay for a licence. Why, just because you are 75 should you suddenly get something free that you didnt get at 74?

[RingoMcCartney]

From your link:

“Anne Smith (59), from Poleglass, was imprisoned after she did not pay a £1,100 court finefor failing to pay her television licence.”

Proves that you are wrong. Tom Watson is also wrong.

For someone who can be so pedantic (does losing a seat ring a bell?) I thought you’d be able to see what the imprisonable offence is.

You just do not read do you. Once again.

Like I said, you can argue the toss if you like. Whether it's non payment of the subsequent increased fine or the TV licence itself, you can end up inside.

How can anybody reasonable claim that if someone can't afford to pay the initial £154 then they will somehow be able to find an additional £1000?

You argue the technicalities all you like, in support of a regressive tax on those least able to afford it. But the example here-

https://amp.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news ... 62137.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Proves I'm right.

Also, Labours Tom Watson said in Parliament within the last hour it was shameful that pensioners, some of whom the poorest in society, could "face imprisonment" for not paying the TV licence.

Hopefully it'll be on this evenings 6 o'clock news, so you eat your humble pie along with your tea.


https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ ... icence-fee" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Enforcement
The NLNP’s enforcement procedures have been redacted “because they contain information which could be useful to people attempting to evade the licence fee”. However, an unknown number of people will be visited by “the TV Licensing field operations team”. (The collection system is contracted out to Capita.) You can refuse them entry, but they may come back with a search warrant.

The BBC says, when contacted, about a sixth of NLN claimants are found to need a licence.

You can be prosecuted for watching TV without a licence, and fined up to £1,000 (up to £2,000 in Guernsey). Hundreds of thousands of people have been prosecuted – some of them living in poverty – and some have been jailed for not paying fines.


However, not only am I wrong, but the Belfast Telegraph, Tom Watson and the Guardian are also less informed than the message boards legal expert , The Family Cat!

Imagine the court room.

Client - "are you sure I won't be sent down? I didn't have the hundred and odd quid for the licence itself. I'm upto my neck on the credit card, and the land lord wants another 75 quid for the rent. There's no way I can magic a grand from nowhere"

Family Cat, legal representative- "Don't fret, take no notice of that rumour monger, Ringo. You won't be going anywhere"

Judge - "Your solicitor is quite correct. You won't be going anywhere. For non-payment of TV licence and associated fines, For the next 28 days you'll be kept at her majesty's pleasure. Send him down"

Family Cat - "Erm."..............

[IanMcL]

Tories deprive pensioners...no telly for old folks.

[JohnMcGreal]

Still yet to see a decent argument why over-75s should be entitled to a free TV license. If you're over 75 and poor, you'll still get it for free. If not, you'll pay like everyone else. What's the problem?

[claretonthecoast1882]

There does seem to be a lot of dislike for anyone who is elderly or well off.

[Grumps]

Still yet to see a decent argument why over-75s should be entitled to a free TV license. If you're over 75 and poor, you'll still get it for free. If not, you'll pay like everyone else. What's the problem?

Correct, exactly what I said.